Dodgers enter playoffs without Kemp

The Dodgers' Matt Kemp (center) stands on crutches with teammates during a rally after the Dodgers' game against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. Kemp is out for the postseason because of swelling in a bone in his left ankle. MICHAEL BAKER, AP

LOS ANGELES – There could not have been a more apt metaphor for their season than to have the Dodgers take the field for a pep rally sending them off into the post-season with one of their key players on crutches.

Outfielder Matt Kemp spent the rally on crutches and will now spend the post-season on the sidelines.

Kemp underwent an MRI on his sore left ankle Sunday that showed swelling in the talus bone, part of the weight-bearing structure of the joint. The swelling makes the area vulnerable to fracture and Kemp was told he cannot play again until next spring.

“It’s just a bad nightmare. Just injury after injury after injury,” said Kemp who has played just 22 games since Memorial Day due to shoulder, ankle and hamstring injuries. “I don’t know what to say anymore except this season is over me.

“Two days ago, I wasn’t feeling all the way back where I wanted to be but I was feeling really, really good. I was starting to get that swag back that everybody needs to go out there and perform. One day later, I’m told I can’t play.”

Kemp will have to avoid bearing any weight on his ankle for the next month. After that, it will be re-examined and re-evaluated. Arthroscopic surgery is possible at that point if the bone does not show healing. But Dr. Neal ElAttrache characterized surgery as “unlikely.”

Kemp will be undergoing surgery on his left shoulder at some point this off-season to address some arthritic deterioration in the AC joint (not the labrum or rotator cuff that was surgically repaired last October). Inflammation in the AC joint was responsible for one of Kemp’s DL trips earlier this season. Recovery time from that surgery is estimated at six weeks.

“I’ll be there cheerleading – the way I have been all year,” Kemp said of his post-season role.

Kemp originally injured his ankle on a play at the plate in the ninth inning of a July 21 game in Washington. He was sidelined for nearly two months but returned to play 11 games, batting .314 (11 for 35) with three doubles and one home run – well enough to raise the Dodgers’ hopes about his availability and potential impact in the post-season.

“Honestly, two weeks ago I didn’t think Matt was going to make the playoffs,” Mattingly said. “When he was coming back in Arizona, I honestly in my heart didn’t think he was going to make it back. Then all of a sudden, he could make it back and that kind of looked like that was definite and he looked good.

“Now all of a sudden, he can’t again. At this point, there’s nothing to do about it but move on.”

They will move on with a large question mark in center field. Andre Ethier is also out with a sore ankle and has not played since Sept. 13. His availability for the playoffs remains very much in doubt pending a workout Tuesday at Dodger Stadium that now looms large.

Mattingly has been hesitant to play Yasiel Puig in center field because of the rough edges in his defensive game. If Ethier is unavailable, reserve Skip Schumaker could be thrust into a major post-season role.

“Obviously if we don't have Matt and we don't have Andre, we’re not full strength and you’re not as good as you can be,” Mattingly said. “But we're still good enough to win.

“To be honest with you, without saying it in a bad way – we’ve played all year long without Matt. We went 42-8 without Matt. We’re capable of winning. We’re not going to roll over and act like something is wrong now.”

After playing in Friday’s 11-0 win over the Colorado Rockies, Kemp woke up Saturday with stiffness and some pain in his ankle. He was scratched from Saturday’s lineup. On Sunday, Kemp went for X-rays and an MRI on the ankle. Sometime during the game – “about the third or fourth inning,” according to Kemp – he was given the results by the medical staff.

“To sum it up, they told me if I go out there and keep on playing my ankle could break,” Kemp said. “I don’t want that.

“They told me I can’t play. It’s very disappointing. I worked hard to get back. Felt really good at the plate. I really felt I could help this team win. They’ve done pretty well without me. I think they’re going to be okay.”

Shortstop Hanley Ramirez has had his own battles with injuries this season and admitted it was “pretty sad” to watch Kemp walk out of the clubhouse on crutches Sunday afternoon.

“It’s not easy to lose a player like him,” Ramirez said. “Everyone knows Matt Kemp is a great player and a great person. He’s going to be missed. We just have to find a way to get it done.”

The Dodgers' Matt Kemp (center) stands on crutches with teammates during a rally after the Dodgers' game against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. Kemp is out for the postseason because of swelling in a bone in his left ankle. MICHAEL BAKER, AP
The Colorado Rockies' Charlie Culberson breaks his bat as he grounds out during the first inning on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. MARK J. TERRILL, AP
The Dodgers' Skip Schumaker (bottom) is forced out at second as Colorado Rockies second baseman Josh Rutledge watches his throw to first in an attempt to get Scott Van Slyke during the fifth inning on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. MARK J. TERRILL, AP
The Colorado Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki hits an RBI single as catcher A.J. Ellis and home plate umpire Bob Davidson watch during the first inning on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. MARK J. TERRILL, AP
Dodgers starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-Jin (left) chases the Colorado Rockies' Jordan Pacheco between third and home during a rundown in the fourth inning on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. Pacheco was tagged out on the play. MARK J. TERRILL, AP
The Colorado Rockies' Todd Helton (left) gets a pat on the back from Matt Belisle as he leaves the field after the Rockies defeated the Dodgers, 2-1, on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. Helton was playing in the final game of his career. MARK J. TERRILL, AP
The Colorado Rockies' Michael Cuddyer hits a single in the fifth inning on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. MARK J. TERRILL, AP

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